She fumbles to pick it up, but her paws are too tiny. I approach her and scoop the metal item in my hand.
“What are you doing, Nuyen?”
I hand her the object. She sniffles and gratefully takes the trinket from me.
“Oh...Finn. I just couldn’t stop thinking about her! Miv and I were so alike. We both struggled with wanting to become soldiers. She told me once that she decided to be an engineer because she couldn’t stand the judgment from her peers.”
She snuggles the tools in her arms like a stuffed animal.
“I thought I might be able to figure out what I want to do with my own career by coming here, but I got carried away. I saw these projects that she was working on and wanted to finish them for her.”
Nuyens eyebrows narrow.
“If you don’t mind me asking. Why are you here? Chit-chit…”
“Something similar I guess.”
My feet give up on me and I take up a sitting position. I cross my legs and stare around the vast workshop.
“Miv was the first friend I met on Altair. She gave me my Move Memorizor and worked with Godsonion Ulmu to perfect it. She wanted me to succeed-”
My lips tighten. Nuyen notices my dismay and curls up in my lap. She closes her eyes and sighs.
“I only wish I got to spend more time with her, like Ron did.”
“Try focusing on the time you got though. I think focusing on all the things we miss will get us down.” I suggest.
“You’re right” she agrees. “Besides, she wouldn’t want to see me upset like this. Miv died so we could move forward. Survive. Thrive. I’ll do that with her in mind. Now and always.”
Nuyen and I spend the next half hour in each other's company. Looking around the workshop before closing our eyes and reminiscing on the time we spent with Miv.
“Hey, Finn. Thanks for being here with me.”
“You too, Nuyen.”
I give her a quick scratch behind a furred-ear.
“Have you decided?”
“Decided what?”
“Come on. You can’t hide it anymore, Nuyen.”
My smile returns.
“Do you still want to be an Aster?”
She thinks long and hard before answering.
“No. I want to be like Miv. From this day forward. I’m an engineer! I’m going to do my best to take up Miv’s mantle.”
That’s right. This way, Miv’s legacy and craft will live on through Nuyen.
“That’s a good choice, Nuyen. I’m proud of you.”
She smiles so wide I think her face is going to break. Her whiskers twitch with excitement and she giggles while thanking me.
Looks like that was exactly what she needed to hear…
∆∆∆
Bringing up Eunoia’s location on my Jericho Watch, I follow the trail to loading bay 808.
Alright Ron. Now it’s your time to talk.
Multiple transport craft are parked next to Eunoia. Phenders and maintenance members are working hard to fix dangling wires and damaged engines...yet Eunoia remains untouched. She’s still covered with dirt and scars.
I open the hangar door with my Jericho watch and pass through the airlock. Like so many times before, I reach the ladder and clamber up to the crew's quarters. What I see next is a shock.
Ron is lying on his back on one of the couches. Surrounding him, like spoils of war, are empty pizza boxes. I spot what looks like a bowl of ranch dip tipped over and spilt on the floor. His right arm is covering his face and his belly is swollen from eating too much. I blink multiple times and frown.
“Hey man…”
He grunts in response.
“Hi, Finn.”
I make my way to the table.
Good god! There must be the equivalent of five large pizzas here!
“This is so much food.”
I sit on the end of the couch near his feet.
“Grok meat pizza?”
“That’s right lil’ bro...snuck off planet to get it. No better way to get rid of depression than consuming your own body weight in pizza.”
Oh...I see...Ron’s the “drown yourself in self-pity” type.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me upset to see him so darn miserable.
“Ron, you already know what I’m about to say. But I’ll say it anyway...It’s not your fault that Miv is dead.”
His chest tightens. I don’t know if I should continue, but I do anyway.
“Miv loved you like family. I’m sure you would have done the same for her if you were in her position-”
He cuts me off.
“Miv wouldn't have been stupid enough to be in the positon I put us in.”
He finally reveals his face. His cheeks are blotchy and red, presumably from crying.
“I was trying to do what's right, Finn. My intentions were good...but I still managed to screw things up. No wonder the High Council doesn’t trust me...and now Ulmu too.”
He touches the burn on his neck for a moment as he lapses into a memory. I wonder what it can be? But he pulls himself out of it.
“That’s the big difference between you and me. You at least think before you act,” he sighs.
His arms drop to his sides.
“So, can I ask you for some advice?”
I nod.
“What should I do to redeem myself? I want to make earth a Known Planet...but maybe it’s better to just give up? I’ll have my memories wiped and go home like nothing happened.”
I hastily shake my head. It seems to catch him off guard.
“No!”
My response is a demand. A familiar fire is rising in my voice, a mixture of determination and resolve.
“You’ve never been the kind of man to give up, so don’t you dare do it now. If I've learnt anything from you, Ron, it’s to pick yourself up and keep moving forward even when things don’t go your way.”
Ron blinks slowly. His eyes dart to the corner of the room.
“Besides,”
That brings his attention back to me.
“Miv wouldn’t want to see you like this. She saved you so you could keep moving forward.”
That’s it.
I can metaphorically see his heart break. Ron tightens his lips and hides his face behind the crook of his elbow. But it’s too late. I spot the tear sliding down his cheek.
“I know that.”
His voice catches in his throat.
“This just hurts so much. I miss her. She was the only one who understood me. When I first arrived on Altair, I was weak and scared. She took me under her wing and supported me no matter what...darnit, I’m so stupid!”
Hearing his voice break alongside his grief hurts too much. I turn away and finally my own tears spill out. They are the same ones I've been holding back since Mom and Dad’s divorce. Since Creyenia. Since our failure on Aronevia...since Mivs’ death.
I can’t believe I thought being a soldier was going to be easy...
My face is flushed. I try my hardest to wipe away the tears with my palms, but they won’t stop. It’s embarrassing. But needs to happen. I finally give up with a meek shrug. Letting them trickle down the bridge off my nose and onto the floor.
“It’s the first time somebody we love has died. It’s really hard to deal with, but Ron, we need to make sure to focus on the moments we spent with Miv. Not all our regrets and lost moments.”
At-last I regain composure. I take a deep breath and exhale out my mouth, and the shattered feeling in my heart leaves with it.
“Things are probably going to get harder from now on for us. Odium is waging war on the galaxies, and he’s got his eye set on you and me. We need to be ready to have more moments like this. People we love may die again. But we’re soldiers...we can’t give up.”
That’s right. I've said it for the first time. True-and-honest...I’m a soldier of Altair!
“But I can’t do it without you Ron. I've lost you once. It won’t happen again. So, when y
ou're ready, you need to pick yourself up again…so we can fight side-by-side.”
Ron reveals his face. When he does, my mind flashes back to when we were kids. This one time, when he was crying over a lost puppy Mom and Dad wouldn’t let him adopt. His expression was the same back then to. Face red as a tomato and eyes bloated like a balloon.
“Ok. You’re right.”
He gives a big- sniffle!
“I dink …”
His nose is clogged with snot from crying so hard.
“...I dink’ I need a napkin ta’ blow my nose.”
“I’m on it.”
The items are scattered inside the crew's quarters. I manage to take a napkin to my own nose and blow away the remaining clogs.
Ron sits up on the couch and blows mightily into the napkin.
“Hey, bro?”
“Ya, Ron?”
“Thank you...from here on out. I’m going to try as hard as I can to come home. I’m not going to let you down.”
“I know you won’t. Now I think I’ll give you time alone. Also, please don’t sneak off Altair for pizza again. I’d rather not get in trouble for something so silly.”
He smiles at my teasing.
“Finn?”
“Hmph?”
“Pass me that last slice of pizza, will ya?”
“Whatever you need.” I pass him the greasiest piece and turn towards the exit. I’m halfway across the room when he hollers.
“Finnnnnn?” He whines.
“Whaaaatt?” I mock with a huge smile.
“I need the dippin’ sauce.”
I roll my eyes and chuckle. Returning to the center of the room. I pick up the sauce and plop it in the center of his outstretched palm.
“Jeez, you’re such a dork sometimes.”
The New Aver Scares The Crap Outta’ Me
We’re ordered up to Ulmu’s office the next day.
He is sitting at his desk with his hands knit together. Ron and I stand at attention. Ulmu rises to his feet and comes round to the front of the table. He makes direct eye contact with Ron.
“The High Council is now fully aware of recent events and we’ve come to a decision about your sentence.”
My stomach is twisting and turning...please, don’t fire us boss!!
“You are to be sent on a new mission. The Council feels that your skills and leadership capabilities need to be re-evaluated.”
“What does that mean, sir?” I ask.
Ulmu’s expression is stern.
“It means that he needs an experienced Platoon Commander who is qualified to inform the High Council if he is sufficiently disciplined to follow orders. Your recent unauthorized escapades have called that into question.”
Ron is clearly not happy that we’re getting a “baby-sitter”. I continue to question Ulmu without fear.
“With due respect, sir, we may have made an unauthorized trip off the planet, but our mission to Creyenia proved to be not as outlined in the mission brief. We used our initiative to successfully stabilize the situation. But we’re still on the chopping block? Why?”
Judging by the look in his eyes, Ulmu is not used to having the Council’s judgement questioned. But I know that with me his response will be softer than with most.
“Because, Finn, your brief was to investigate and report back. Not to engage in a risky, go-it-alone campaign in which you were extremely lucky to survive. Besides, you hid information about this mind-controlling crystal. That could, technically, be labeled as insubordination.”
Ron is about to protest but Ulmu cuts him off. Once again, his voice is kind.
“No, Ron, hear me out. The High Council wanted to let the two of you go, but I convinced them to give you both another chance. After all, your previous missions, both on Creyenia and Aronevia had good intentions.”
“So, what happens now, sir?” I ask.
Ulmu circles back behind his desk and stares out the window, his eyes shadowed by overhanging lights.
“Finn. Ron. We have received reports overnight that Odium has declared war on all our Known Galaxies. Last night, five different planets were attacked. The Etis, Vusta, Jacriea and Othinda outposts are barely managing to hold off his onslaught. They have taken many casualties but have also inflicted substantial losses to his troops. Yet Odium’s army remains strong. Currently, the planet Dree seems to be their primary objective, possibly because they judge it to be the weakest.”
Ulmu tilts his head in our direction.
“There is no knowing how long they can last. Ron, you will be the nominal head of a squadron, with a select crew, whose mission is to reinforce their defences.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Ron asks, “but what do you mean by ‘nominal’ head’?”
“You will be accompanied by an Aver Gold with considerable battlefield experience to observe your handling of the mission. Unless she feels that you are endangering the operation, she will simply observe. Based on her assessment of your performance, the High Council will make its ultimate decision. Let’s hope that Roxie is generous with your evaluation.”
Roxie? The name doesn’t ring a bell. I hear the door swish open behind us.
Speak of the devil...literally!
Roxie is a demon-like alien with skin as red as blood. Her golden eyes remain pinned on Ulmu. She’s wearing a similar uniform to Ron. But, instead of a gold sash, hers’ is dark green. Her uniform is white, with a silver butterfly upon the upper breastplate. She has two bottom-lip piercings, and twin diamond tattoos next to her right eye. I am fascinated by the tiny horns protruding from her bald head (four in total). A tail, much like the classic depictions of the devil, flicks around her boots.
She wiggles her flat nose in disgust and sweeps into the room. She pushes past Ron and stands at attention in front of Ulmu’s desk. She nods her head in Ron’s direction.
“Sir, is this the one?” she asks.
Ulmu looks at her.
“Stand at ease, Aver Roxie.”
She relaxes her stance a little.
Ulmu continues.
“These are Ron and Finn Bates. Ron is the leader of this expedition and has been told that, unless the mission is in extreme danger, you will not interfere with his decisions. Your role is to observe his performance and report to the High Council. Your cover is that you are the Communications Officer providing the Citadel with up-to-date information regarding the situation on Dree. Is that clear?’
“Yes, sir.”
She sounds disappointed...but I'm too busy staring at her hands, which house retractable claws.
“Cool.” I whisper. Her pointed ears twitch and her head turns.
“And you must be Finn Bates,” she snorts. “If you were engaged at the Etis Outpost, your rebellious behaviour would see you out of the Citadel for good.”
I glare.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Before she can answer, Ulmu cuts us off with the wave of his hand.
“Fortunately, Roxie, the High Council makes that determination, not you.”
Roxie snaps back to attention.
“Of course, sir. Sorry, sir.”
Ulmu groans like a father trying to subdue the arguing of his bickering children.
“I want this inter-species wrangling to cease…and that applies to all of you. We are here to maintain harmony between the galaxies. How can we do that if we can’t even keep the peace between ourselves?”
We all hang our heads in embarrassment.
“Right then,” he continues. “You will gather at the launch pad in the loading bay, sub-level 450 immediately. You will depart in two Sub-Aqua Class 700 transport ships, each carrying four fighters and multiple escape pods. Dree is a water world inhabited by the Crillish people, so your ships are designed for under-water operations. They have the latest cavitation technology to improve their speed and handle much like the fighters you are used to but move slowly, as do the enemy. You will have to adjust your thinking to allow for a different r
esponse time. Your platoon is already waiting for you. This is an emergency launch in t-minus thirty minutes.”
Roxie bows. Ron and I look befuddled and lost. Are we really going to jump straight into another mission?!
∆∆∆
We enter the loading bay where two transport ships, twice the size of Eunoia, stand waiting. They are a marvel to look at. They’re shaped like a submarine with a wider nose. Their coats of paint are aquamarine and the tail fins are a brilliant silver. They have a large upper dome with defence turrets mounted on the top and the cockpits are dual-level platforms visible through a pane of reinforced glass-like material.
I’m overjoyed to see Naki standing by transport ships. I’m far less excited to see Kiwok.
Great, not only will this mission determine whether Ron and I survive on Altair, but I also have to deal with my number #1 bully. Sorry Chad Brunestick, you’ve been replaced!
“Small man. Finn!”
Kiwok greets me and immediately growls as I join him in the group of five other Asters.
“Me heard you did big dumb-dumb. Went on secret mission.”
“I’m not permitted to talk about it,” I tell him, knowing that this will irritate him.
Kiwok’s jaw works before continuing.
“Your brother Ron is stupid Aver.”
Without a second thought I spin to face him. I clench my first around the helm of his uniform and attempt to pull him closer. Not the smartest move as this guy weighs more than an SUV.
“You’d better shut up about that mission which you know nothing about and stop bad-mouthing my brother!”
Kiwok smiles from gill-to-gill.
“What you do little man? Hit me?”
Ron storms over to us.
“Stop that at once, both of you,” he roars. “Kiwok, I have tolerated your insubordination long enough. From now on, you will show respect to my rank or I will have you up on charges. Do I make myself clear?”
Roxie watches this exchange closely but, with her alien features, it is impossible to tell what she is thinking.
Kiwok huffs and stands back with the others. Ron watches him slink back. My sibling quirks his brow at me, as if to say- “Come on bro’...don’t make me yell at you too!”
“Right,” he continues, addressing the assembled squad. “This is not an exercise. It is an active mission, and you will obey my orders immediately as lives may depend on it. The following is classified information that is not to be shared with anyone outside of this group. Odium has declared war and a planet under our protection is under attack. Our destination is the Planet Dree in the L-V-8935 galaxy. Once there, we will be supporting Etis troops to prevent the Dree’s capital city, Asea, from being over-run from Odium’s attack.”
Hypernova Series: Worlds At war Page 10